Combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt

ABSTRACT

A combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt for stadium concessions is provided. When present in an unfolded position, the combination is in the form of a food or beverage tray which is suitable for supporting various food and beverage items. When present in a folded position, the combination is in the form of a catching mitt which is suitable for catching a projectile object such as a baseball or the like. In the inventive method, a user grips the combination via a gripping arrangement, and folds the combination along a fold line to convert it from a tray into a catching mitt. The combination may then be used to catch a ball by retaining it between opposing panels of the structure. The inventive combinations are lightweight and economical, and may additionally be imprinted with team logos or messages to serve as marketing materials or souvenirs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combination food or beverage tray andcatching mitt. The combination may be used as a food and/or beveragetray, and may be converted or transformed into a catching mitt, such asa baseball catching mitt for use in a ballpark.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is common for baseball fans to attempt to catch foul or errant ballsthat are hit or thrown into spectator areas, often using their barehands or their own personal leather baseball mitt to do so. Bringing atraditional leather baseball mitt to a game is cumbersome and presentsthe risk of property loss or theft. In addition, catching a baseballwith a bare hand can easily lead to injury, or loss of the ball. Thepresent invention offers a solution to these problems by providing astructure which may be used as a food and/or beverage tray, and which issuitable for transformation into and use as a catching mitt.

The inventive combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt hasseveral uses, and is particularly suited for public spectator eventssuch as baseball games. Spectators would first use the combination inthe form of a tray to support their food items, and then convert it intothe form of a catching mitt for use in catching balls which are hit orthrown into spectator areas. The inventive combination may be formedfrom any suitable lightweight and inexpensive materials such ascorrugated cardboard or molded pulp. A depression formed in thecombination serves to support a food item and/or beverage. As anexample, the depression may be shaped as a cup holder for beverages.When food or beverage items are removed from the combination, it can befolded for use as a catching mitt. That is, to catch a projectilebaseball or the like, a user would convert the inventive combinationfrom a tray into a catching mitt by folding the combination along a foldline, and catch a ball by retaining and/or securing the ball between twoopposing panels of the structure.

Many different types of baseball mitts and baseball mitt combinationshave been developed in the past. However, none of the previously knownmitts or catching devices provide a solution to the above problems. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,721 provides a combination seat cushion andbaseball mitt. However, their product does not solve the fundamentalproblem of having to transport a personal mitt from home, and risks thepossibility of loss or theft. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,696 providesa souvenir foam baseball mitt in the shape of a hand, which a spectatorcan purchase at the sporting event. However, this foam mitt serves onlyto cushion the user's hand. Neither of these can serve as a food and/orbeverage tray. U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,653 also relates to a noveltybaseball glove formed from a paperboard material. However, they do notteach or suggest any use as a food or beverage tray, and fail to includea depression formed into their structure, which depression of thepresent invention serves to support a food or beverage item.Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,952 relates to a food plate having ahand strap, for carrying a plate of food. However, this structure's lackof a fold line renders it unable to serve as a catching mitt.

It has not been heretofore known to combine the functions of a foodand/or beverage tray and a catching mitt. The inventive combinationincludes the function of a food and/or beverage tray since it is verycommon for fans to purchase food at concession areas of a ballpark, andto receive such food on cardboard or disposable trays. When in the formof a catching mitt, the inventive combination offers an inexpensive andpotentially disposable alternative to bringing a personal leather mittto the ballpark. The combination's material serves to at least partiallyabsorb the impact of a ball so that it may be caught safely andsecurely.

The inventive combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt isfurther advantageous in that it is lightweight, economical, and can berecycled. The combinations of the invention may additionally beimprinted with team logos or messages to serve as marketing materials orsouvenirs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a combination food or beverage tray and catchingmitt, comprising:

(a) first and second opposing panels, said panels being hingedly joinedto each other along a fold line, wherein each of the first and secondopposing panels has a floor having a top side and a bottom side;

(b) side walls extending outwardly from and around the top side of thefloor, and forming at least one depression in at least one of the firstand second opposing panels, which at least one depression is shaped tosupport a food or beverage item therein; and

(c) at least one gripping arrangement at the bottom side of the floor ofat least one of the first and second opposing panels, which grippingarrangement is suitable for receiving at least part of a human hand;

wherein the combination is in the form of a food or beverage tray whenin an unfolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and thefloor of the second panel are positioned at substantially a 180° anglewith respect to each other, and

wherein the combination is in the form of a catching mitt when in afolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and the floor ofthe second panel are positioned at an angle of less than 180° withrespect to each other.

The invention further provides a combination food or beverage tray andcatching mitt, comprising:

(a) first and second opposing panels, said panels being hingedly joinedto each other along a fold line comprising a hinge, wherein each of thefirst and second opposing panels has a floor having a top side and abottom side;

(b) side walls extending outwardly from and around the top side of thefloor, and forming at least one depression in at least one of the firstand second opposing panels, which at least one depression is shaped tosupport a food or beverage item therein; wherein a side wall of thefirst panel is adjacent to a side wall of the second panel, and whereinthe adjacent side walls of the first panel and the second panel areseparated from each other by the fold line.

(c) a raised lip along at least a portion of an outside perimeter of theside walls of at least one of the first and second panels; and

(d) at least one gripping arrangement at the bottom side of the floor ofat least one of the first and second opposing panels, which grippingarrangement is suitable for receiving at least part of a human hand;

wherein the combination is in the form of a food or beverage tray whenin an unfolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and thefloor of the second panel are positioned at substantially a 180° anglewith respect to each other, and

wherein the combination is in the form of a catching mitt when in afolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and the floor ofthe second panel are positioned at an angle of less than 180° withrespect to each other.

The invention still further provides a method comprising the steps of:

I) providing a combination food or beverage tray and catching mittcomprising:

-   -   (a) first and second opposing panels, said panels being hingedly        joined to each other along a fold line, wherein each of the        first and second opposing panels has a floor having a top side        and a bottom side;    -   (b) side walls extending outwardly from and around the top side        of the floor, and forming at least one depression in at least        one of the first and second opposing panels, which at least one        depression is shaped to support a food or beverage item therein;        and    -   (c) at least one gripping arrangement at the bottom side of the        floor of at least one of the first and second opposing panels,        which gripping arrangement is suitable for receiving at least        part of a human hand;    -   wherein the combination is in the form of a food or beverage        tray when in an unfolded position wherein the floor of the first        panel and the floor of the second panel are positioned at        substantially a 180° angle with respect to each other, and    -   wherein the combination is in the form of a catching mitt when        in a folded position wherein the floor of the first panel and        the floor of the second panel are positioned at an angle of less        than 180° with respect to each other;

II) gripping the at least one gripping arrangement with at least part ofa human hand; and

III) folding the combination along the fold line, such that thecombination is converted into the form of a catching mitt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the combination food or beveragetray and catching mitt of the invention when unfolded.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the combination food orbeverage tray and catching mitt of the invention when unfolded.

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the combination food or beveragetray and catching mitt of the invention when partially folded.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the combination food orbeverage tray and catching mitt of the invention when folded around abaseball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt is provided, andis hereinafter referred to as the “combination”. The inventivecombination may be in the form of a food or beverage tray to supportsuitably sized food and/or beverage items. The combination mayalternately be converted or transformed into the form of a catching mittfor catching, retaining, securing, gripping, or the like of any object,such as a baseball, which is suitably sized and shaped to fit therein.In certain embodiments, the inventive combination may be used at publicspectator events such as baseball games, where spectators use thecombination in the form of a tray to support their food and/or beverageitems, and then convert the combination into the form of a catching mittto catch baseballs which are hit or thrown into spectator areas.

The inventive combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt 1,shown in FIGS. 1-4, comprises first and second opposing panels, 3 and 5respectively, which are hingedly joined to each other along a fold line11. Each of the panels 3 and 5 has a floor 6 having a top side 7 and abottom side 9. As described below, the combination is in the form of afood or beverage tray when in an unfolded or open position, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the floor 6 of the first panel 3 and the floor 6of the second panel 5 are positioned at substantially a 180° angle withrespect to each other, such as along the fold line. When the combination1 is folded along the fold line 11 such that it is in a folded position,it is in the form of a catching mitt wherein the floor 6 of the firstpanel 3 and the floor 6 of the second panel 5 are positioned at an angleof less than 180° with respect to each other. It is desired that thecatching mitt is capable of at least partially retaining and/or securingan object between the first and second opposing panels as show in FIG.4.

Regarding the fold line 11, it may extend along the entire length of thepanels, or the entire length of the combination. The fold line maydivide the combination geometrically in half, or may divide it intoirregular shapes. That is, the first and second panels 3 and 5 may ormay not be symmetrical with each other, relative to the fold line 11. Incertain embodiments, the fold line 11 may comprise any suitable dividingarrangement such as a perforated line, a groove, a crease, a hinge, arecessed channel, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the fold line11 comprises a hinge. The fold line material may or may not comprise thesame material as the panels 3 and 5.

The combination 1 further comprises side walls 8 extending outwardlyfrom and around the top side 7 of the floor 6, and forming at least onedepression 15 in at least one of the first and second opposing panels 3and 5. Preferably, at least one depression 15 is formed in both of thefirst and second panels, 3 and 5, respectively. The depression 15 may beof any suitable shape or size for supporting a food and/or beverage itemtherein. In certain embodiments, the depression 15 may be substantiallycylindrical in shape, or otherwise suitably shaped to serve as a cupholder and support a drink therein. In certain embodiments, thedepression 15 may be suitably shaped to support a food item. In certainembodiments, such as where the combination is in the form of a catchingmitt, it is preferred the at least one depression is capable of at leastpartially retaining an object between the first and second opposingpanels. Examples of such objects include baseballs or the like.

In certain embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 1, a side wall 8 ofthe first panel 3 is adjacent to a side wall 8 of the second panel 5,wherein the adjacent side walls of the first panel 3 and the secondpanel 5 are separated from each other by the fold line 11. Such adjacentsidewalls may or may not comprise substantially the same material as thematerial of the first and second opposing panels 3 and 5. In certainembodiments, the adjacent sidewalls between the first panel 3 and thesecond panel 5 are substantially rigid. In certain embodiments, theadjacent sidewalls between the first panel 3 and the second panel 5 abuteach other along the length of the sidewalls 8 when the combination 1 isin an unfolded position, so as to provide stability and support when thecombination 1 is in the form of a tray.

The combination 1 may further comprise a raised lip 13 along at least aportion of an outside perimeter of the side walls 8 of at least one ofthe first and second panels 3 and 5. Such a raised lip 13 may addrigidity to the combination to effectively serve as a tray, and/or toeffectively seal the perimeter of the side walls 8, such as to assist inretaining and/or securing an object within the combination 1 when usedas a catching mitt.

The combination 1 further includes at least one gripping arrangement 17at or through the bottom side 9 of the floor 6 of at least one of thefirst and second opposing panels 3 and 5, which gripping arrangement 17is suitable for receiving at least part of a human hand. A user engagesthe combination 1 by gripping the at least one gripping arrangement 17with at least part of a human hand. In certain embodiments, the grippingarrangement 17 secures at least part of the human hand to thecombination 1. In certain embodiments, at least one gripping arrangement17 is present at the bottom side of both of the first and second panels3 and 5.

The at least one gripping arrangement 17 may be suitable for bothright-handed and left-handed users. Examples of suitable grippingarrangements nonexclusively include hand cavities, pockets, sleeves,finger grooves, tubes, bands, loops, bulges, cut-out shapes, slots, orholes, a raised topography at the bottom side of a panel, such as raisedprojections or bumps or the like, and combinations thereof. As anexample, FIG. 1 shows a gripping arrangement 17 which comprises acut-out slot. In certain embodiments, the gripping arrangement 17 maypenetrate through to the top side 7 of the at least one panel, such asin those embodiments wherein the gripping arrangement comprises acut-out shape or slot. In certain embodiments, the topography of thebottom side 9 of the floor 6 of the at least one depression 15 may besuitable such that this portion of the depression 15 itself may serve asthe gripping arrangement 17. For example, in certain embodiments, thebottom side 9 of the floor 6 may comprise grooves or the like such thatthe depression 15 may serve as the gripping arrangement.

In certain embodiments, upon a user's gripping of the grippingarrangement 17, the top sides of the first and second panels 3 and 5 arefolded toward each other along the fold line 11, such that thecombination is in a folded or at least partially closed position. Suchfolding thereby converts or transforms the combination 1 from a food orbeverage tray into a catching mitt. As stated above, in general thecombination is in the form of a food or beverage tray when in anunfolded or open position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the floor6 of the first panel 3 and the floor 6 of the second panel 5 arepositioned at substantially a 180° angle with respect to each other,such as along the fold line. The combination is in the form of acatching mitt when in a folded, or at least partially closed, positionas shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the floor 6 of the first panel 3 andthe floor 6 of the second panel 5 are positioned at an angle of lessthan 180° with respect to each other, such as along the fold line.

The inventive combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt may beformed from a variety of materials, and be present at any suitablethickness, size, and shape, depending on intended purpose. Examples ofsuitable shapes for the combination 1 nonexclusively include oval,circular, rectangular, square, or irregular shapes. In certainembodiments it may be preferred that the combination 1 is suitablyshaped such that multiple combination units are stackable or nestablewith adjacent duplicate units for ease of shipping and storage. Incertain embodiments, the invention includes a nested stack comprising aplurality of combinations 1 which are stacked together in a nestedmanner. In certain embodiments, the combination comprises a suitableshape or material to be impact-absorbing, such as to protect a user'shand when a projectile object is caught within the combination as it isused as a catching mitt. An example of an impact-absorbing shape mayinclude corrugated materials, or those having internal ridges or wafflepatterns or the like.

Suitable materials for the combination nonexclusively include plastic,molded pulp, paperboard, fiberboard, paperboard coated with plastic,corrugated cardboard, foam-like materials, such as styrofoam, andcombinations thereof. In certain preferred embodiments, the combinationcomprises a recyclable and/or biodegradable material. In certainembodiments, it is desirable for the combination to comprise a flexiblesheet material. The combination may or may not comprise a singlecontinuous sheet of material. In certain embodiments where thecombination comprises a single continuous sheet of material, the foldline 11, the gripping arrangement 17, the sidewalls 8, and the raisedlip 13 if present, all comprise substantially the same material.

In certain embodiments, the combination 1 may be marked with a message,image, symbol, logo, or color. Thus, the combination 1 could be used asa marketing item or keepsake souvenir. Such marking may be done usingany suitable method, such as printing, engraving, embossing, stamping,cutting, or being formed with grooves or recesses. Any suitablecolorants may be used, such as inks, dyes, pigments, or the like.

The invention further provides a method which first includes the step ofproviding a combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt, asdescribed in full detail above. For illustrative purposes, thecombination food or beverage tray and catching mitt of the presentlydescribed method may be visually represented by the combination 1 shownin FIGS. 1-4. In certain embodiments of the present method, thecombination 1 is first provided in the form of a food or beverage tray,in unfolded or open position as defined above, as shown in FIG. 1. Thatis, the combination 1 is provided in an unfolded or open positionwherein the floor of the first panel 3 and the floor 6 of the secondpanel 5 are positioned at substantially a 180° angle with respect toeach other.

Next, the inventive method comprises the step of gripping the at leastone gripping arrangement 17 of the combination 1, with at least part ofa human hand. The gripping arrangement 17 is described in full detailabove, and is present at or through the bottom side 9 of the floor 6 ofat least one of the first and second opposing panels 3 and 5. Thegripping arrangement 17 is suitable for receiving at least part of ahuman hand. As an example, as shown in FIG. 4, part of a user's hand,such as a user's thumb 21, is used to grip the gripping arrangement 17at the bottom side 9 of the floor 6 of a first panel 3 of thecombination. In this exemplary embodiment, at least one of the user'sremaining fingers 23 grips an additional gripping arrangement at thebottom side 9 of the floor 6 of a second panel 5 of the combination 1.

The inventive method further comprises the step of folding thecombination along the fold line, such that the combination is convertedinto form of a catching mitt. That is, the combination is thus in theform of a catching mitt when in a folded, or at least partially closed,position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the floor 6 of the firstpanel 3 and the floor 6 of the second panel 5 are positioned at an angleof less than 180° with respect to each other. This folding step may beconducted either before, after, or simultaneously with the step ofgripping the gripping arrangement. In certain embodiments, it is desiredthat the folding step is conducted after the step of gripping thegripping arrangement. The above steps may be conducted as a method ofconverting a combination food or beverage tray into a catching mitt.

When the combination 1 is in the form of a catching mitt, the top sidesof the panels 3 and 5 effectively serve as an inside surface of thecatching mitt. When in the form of a catching mitt, it is preferred thatthe combination is capable of retaining and an object such as a baseballtherein, between the top sides of the first and second opposing panels.For example, when a user grips the gripping arrangement 17 and folds thecombination along the fold line, the top sides of the first and secondpanels 3 and 5 are moved toward each other along the fold line 11. Assuch, the at least one depression 15 of the combination 1 is utilizedsimilarly to a “web” of a traditional catching mitt, such that an objectsuch as a baseball may be caught in this depression or “web” as a userengages the gripping arrangement. Catching an object in the depression15 serves to prevent the user's hand from being injured by the impact ofthe object. As stated above, the combination 1, when in the form of acatching mitt, may be used for the catching, retaining, securing,gripping, or the like of any object which is of a suitable shape andsize to fit therein. Examples of such objects may include a variety ofsports objects such as baseballs, golf balls, hockey pucks, and thelike.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiments, it will be readily appreciatedby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. It is intended that the claims be interpreted to coverthe disclosed embodiment, those alternatives which have been discussedabove and all equivalents thereto.

1. A combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt, comprising:(a) first and second opposing panels, said panels being hingedly joinedto each other along a fold line, wherein each of the first and secondopposing panels has a floor having a top side and a bottom side; (b)side walls extending outwardly from and around the top side of thefloor, and forming at least one depression in at least one of the firstand second opposing panels, which at least one depression is shaped tosupport a food or beverage item therein; and (c) a gripping arrangementat the bottom side of the floor of each of the first and second opposingpanels, wherein each gripping arrangement is suitable for receiving atleast part of a human hand and securing the human hand to a panel, andwherein each gripping arrangement comprises a pocket, a sleeve, tubes, aband, a loop, or a cut-out shape; wherein the combination is in the formof a food or beverage tray when in an unfolded position wherein thefloor of the first panel and the floor of the second panel arepositioned at substantially a 180° angle with respect to each other, andwherein the combination is in the form of a catching mitt when in afolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and the floor ofthe second panel are positioned at an angle of less than 180° withrespect to each other.
 2. The combination food or beverage tray andcatching mitt of claim 1 wherein, when the combination is in the form ofa catching mitt, the at least one depression is capable of at leastpartially retaining an object between the first and second opposingpanels.
 3. The combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt ofclaim 1 which further comprises a raised lip along at least a portion ofan outside perimeter of the side walls of at least one of the first andsecond panels.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The combination food or beverage trayand catching mitt of claim 1 which comprises at least one depressionformed in both the first and second panels.
 6. The combination food orbeverage tray and catching mitt of claim 1 which comprises at least onematerial of plastic, molded pulp, paperboard, fiberboard, paperboardcoated with plastic, corrugated cardboard, or a foam-like material. 7.(canceled)
 8. The combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt ofclaim 1 which comprises a single continuous sheet of material.
 9. Thecombination food or beverage tray and catching mitt of claim 1 whereinthe fold line comprises a hinge.
 10. The combination food or beveragetray and catching mitt of claim 1 which is marked with a message, image,symbol, logo, or color.
 11. The combination food or beverage tray andcatching mitt of claim 1 wherein a side wall of the first panel isadjacent to a side wall of the second panel, and wherein the adjacentside walls of the first panel and the second panel are separated fromeach other by the fold line.
 12. A nested stack comprising a pluralityof the combination food or beverage tray and catching mitts of claim 1.13. A combination food or beverage tray and catching mitt, comprising:(a) first and second opposing panels, said panels being hingedly joinedto each other along a fold line comprising a hinge, wherein each of thefirst and second opposing panels has a floor having a top side and abottom side; (b) side walls extending outwardly from and around the topside of the floor, and forming at least one depression in at least oneof the first and second opposing panels, which at least one depressionis shaped to support a food or beverage item therein; wherein a sidewall of the first panel is adjacent to a side wall of the second panel,and wherein the adjacent side walls of the first panel and the secondpanel are separated from each other by the fold line; (c) a raised lipalong at least a portion of an outside perimeter of the side walls of atleast one of the first and second panels; and (d) a gripping arrangementat the bottom side of the floor of each of the first and second opposingpanels, wherein each gripping arrangement is suitable for receiving atleast part of a human hand and securing the human hand to a panel, andwherein each gripping arrangement comprises a pocket, a sleeve, tubes, aband, a loop, or a cut-out shape; wherein the combination is in the formof a food or beverage tray when in an unfolded position wherein thefloor of the first panel and the floor of the second panel arepositioned at substantially a 180° angle with respect to each other, andwherein the combination is in the form of a catching mitt when in afolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and the floor ofthe second panel are positioned at an angle of less than 180° withrespect to each other.
 14. A method comprising the steps of: I)providing a combination food or beverage tray and catching mittcomprising: (a) first and second opposing panels, said panels beinghingedly joined to each other along a fold line, wherein each of thefirst and second opposing panels has a floor having a top side and abottom side; (b) side walls extending outwardly from and around the topside of the floor, and forming at least one depression in at least oneof the first and second opposing panels, which at least one depressionis shaped to support a food or beverage item therein; and (c) a grippingarrangement at the bottom side of the floor of each of the first andsecond opposing panels, wherein each gripping arrangement is suitablefor receiving at least part of a human hand and securing the human handto a panel, and wherein each gripping arrangement comprises a pocket, asleeve, tubes, a band, a loop, or a cut-out shape; wherein thecombination is in the form of a food or beverage tray when in anunfolded position wherein the floor of the first panel and the floor ofthe second panel are positioned at substantially a 180° angle withrespect to each other, and wherein the combination is in the form of acatching mitt when in a folded position wherein the floor of the firstpanel and the floor of the second panel are positioned at an angle ofless than 180° with respect to each other; II) gripping each grippingarrangement with at least part of a human hand to thereby secure thehuman hand to each panel; and III) folding the combination along thefold line, such that the combination is converted into the form of acatching mitt.
 15. The method of claim 14 comprising the further step(IV) of catching and retaining an object between the first and secondopposing panels.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the combinationcomprises at least one material of plastic, molded pulp, paperboard,fiberboard, paperboard coated with plastic, corrugated cardboard, or afoam-like material.
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. The method ofclaim 14 wherein the combination comprises at least one depressionformed in both the first and second panels.
 20. The method of claim 14wherein the fold line of the combination comprises a hinge.